What are tasks?

'tasksel' provides a simple interface for users who want to configure their system to perform one or more task. Usually to work on a task in Debian you need a set of packages, we also call each list of these packages `task' in 'tasksel'.

There are four tasks in Debian for desktop environments: desktop, gnome-desktop, kde-desktop and xfce-desktop.

Desktop Task

The desktop task (desktop) is the common part of the other desktop tasks. It basically installs X.org, OpenOffice.org, the Iceweasel browser, a simple window manager called twm and common Debian Desktop artwork.

How to install the Debian Desktop on a living system ?

Make sure that you have an up-to-date tasksel and aptitude packages and run:

aptitude update
aptitude install <the tasks of your choice>

Example: aptitude install desktop gnome-desktop

Is there a Live CD ?

Yes, there are Debian Desktop task based Live CDs (Etch and testing available) maintained by the Debian Live initiative. Download your image at: http://live.debian.net

How to Install from Scratch

To install Debian GNU/Linux Desktop Etch on your desktop or laptop, we recommend you the multiarch DVD media. With one single media you will be able to install the default desktop environment (GNOME) in new mac systems, regular PCs (i386 architecture), old mac systems (powerpc architecture) and new PCs, including high-end servers (amd64 architecture). No need to inform your architecture, you just need a DVD driver and if you don't have one we recommend you the multiarch CD media.

The installation process is simple, after some questions and base system installation, you will be asked which tasks (set of softwares) you want to install. Just select "default desktop environment" (gnome).

To pick another desktop, you have to tell Debian-Installer to present a lower questions priority level, or use preseeding, or you must use a CD/DVD built for your chosen desktop environment.

How to Test Without Install

We've unofficial Live CD images for i386, amd64 and ppc architectures. Choose (we recommend GNOME) and burn the .iso file to a CD or copy (using tools like rawrite or dd) one of the .img files to a USB token, for example.